Tire inflator valve device with pressure gauge



April 1, 1953 A. R. MOFFETT 2,635,623

TIRE INFLATOR VALVE DEVICE WITH PRESSURE GAUGE Filed April 19, 1948 53 I7\-- 3Q 1"- ZI J2 .50 I [4- 40// INVENTOR 4/ 6 73 E 42 6/ 8 6g:fG/i/BALD R. MOFFETT /e r 0 E I l Q @519 66 I u/xm 5a 0* ATTORNEYPatented Apr. 21, 1953 'UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE TIRE INFLATOR VALVEDEVICE WITH PRESSURE GAUGE Archibald R. Moffett, Orinda, Calif.

Application April 19, 1948, Serial No. 21,972

3 Claims. (01. 137-229) 1 This invention, relates to an improvedinfiator and has particular applicability as an automobile-tire infiatoror valve-and-gauge assembly installed near the outlet chuck of acompressedair-hose. More particularly it relates to an infiator,including in combination a valve and a removable gauge constructed froma small number of rugged parts and adapted to secure a tight closure atthe valve, to protect the gauge from the full pressure of thecompressed-air in the line, to transmit to the gauge the pressure in thetire after each inflation, and to permit quick and simple assembly anddisassemb-ly of the parts.

Filling station infiators in current use are characterized by acomplicated arrangement of working parts including series of springs,sliding gauge parts, leather washers and bearings. These parts soon wearor get dirty so that the friction between the sliding parts increasesand affects the accuracy and the reliability of the gauge. When repairor replacement becomes necessary the whole inflator must be replaced andth used one taken to a service station to be rebuilt. The valvemechanism is generally insepe arable from the gauge mechanism, and whenit wears out or is broken, the entire inflator must be replaced.

In addition to the above disadvantages, the gauges of present-dayinflators are vdifficult to read and often are in an awkward positionsOne object of the invention is to, provide an infiator, which solvesthese problems.

.A further object of the invention is to provide an infiator comprisinga small number of simple parts. r

Another object of the inventionis to provide an inflator which iscapable of ready assembl disassembly, and reassembly. 1i

Another object of the invention is to providean inflator having a valvemechanism which can be readily disassembled and reassembled withoutdisturbing the gauge element.

Another object of the invention is to provide an infiator which fitsconveniently in either hand in such a manner that the gauge dial is in agood reading position. 7

Another object of the invention is to provide an infiator in which thegauge and valve are so arranged as to protect the gauge from the fullline pressure.

A further object of the invention is to provide an inflator in which thetire pressure is auto,- matically measured by the gauge whenever theline pressure is cut off.

7 Another object of the invention is to provide 2 an inflator having avalve mechanism which utilizes the line pressure which it controls toachieve a quick and complete seating of the parts.

Another object of the invention is to provide an inflator having a valvecomposed of a small number of simple parts having a long life.

Other objects and advantages of the invention will appear from thefollowing description. A detailed embodiment is described in accordancewith U. S-.-Revised Statutes, Section 4888, but the invention is not to,be limited to this specific embodiment.

In the drawings: Fig. l is a view in perspective: of an inflatorembodying the principles of this invention; v I

Fig. 2 is a view in section of the inflator, the valve being shown inits closed position;

Fig. 3 is a view in perspective looking at the rear of the gauge; and

Fig. 4 is an'enlarged view in section of the valve mechanism, showing itin its open position.

In general, the invention comprises a body member l4 having an enlargedhead l8 in which there is a large recess 19 lying at an angle to theaxis of the body and adapted to receive a removable gauge element 20. Aretaining ring 39 fits around the open end of the recess :l9 and pressesthe gauge 20 into the recess so that its inlet 2| bears firmly againstan air conduit 26. In the main-portion of the body member I4 is avalve-receiving recess 40, which communicates with a pressure-line orinlet I6, the gauge conduit '26, and an outlet 44 between them. A firstvalve seat 48 is provided between the inlet l6 and'outlet 44, a secondseat 15 between the outlet 44' and the conduit 26, and a third valveseat 13 adja: cent the ,end' of the valve recess 40. A firstjv'alve core50 is provided which normally closes the seat 48, and a seconddouble-faced valve'core l2is provided, which normally closes the thirdvalve seat and .thus' prevents leakage from the valve. When valve seats48 and 13 are closed, the-conduit 26 and outlet 44' are incommunication, and the gauge measures the tire pressure. Stems 5| and 18of the first and second cores, respectively, ar adapted to engage oneanother so that when the second core is moved away from the third seat13 ,andagainst the second seat 15, the first core is unseated and airmay pass from the inlet 1 6 into the valve and out the outlet 44, thesecond core simultaneously blocking off the conduit. 26 and thuspreventing the full force of the pressure line from reaching the gauge.

I A more detailed'description will now be given. The inflator Ill isintended to be attached near 2,685,623 l I Q the end of the air pressurehose I I to control the passage of air into a whip I2 having an outletvalve or chuck I3 which engages the end of the tire stem.

The body I4 of the inflator I is preferably made from a light metal oralloy, such as an alloy of magnesium or aluminum. The body I4 ispreferably rectangular in cross section so that it fits conveniently inthe hand. A recess I5 is bored in from one end to reduce its weight, andparallel to the recess I5 is an air inlet duct I5 into the' open end ofwhich is threaded a fitting I! at the end of the pressure line II.

The body |4 terminates in an enlarged 'cylin-' drical head I8, whichpreferably lies at an angle of about 40 to the main axis of thebody andwhich has a cylindrical recess I5, adapted to receive the removablegauge 20. 3

The gauge may be any one of the many accurate and easily readable gaugeswhich can be bought upon the market. 'Ihe one shown is a completelysealed unit having an unbreakable plastic lens and a calibrated dial.Its air inlet 2I-projects beyond its bottom surface and beyond theassembly screws 22. The gauge. 2B 'is prevented from chattering oraccidentally revolving in the recess I9 by a rubber band-like washer 23around its circumference.

The floor 24 of the recess I9 has a pocket 25 to receive the projectinggauge inlet 2| and to provide the termination of an air conduit 26 fromthe valve. A soft washer 2I in the pocket 25 provides a seal between theconduit 26 and inlet 2 I. The floor 24 also bears an annular groove 28which provides. clearance for and prevents interference from the gaugescrews 22.

The gauge 29 is held in the recess I9, and the inlet 2| is held tightlyagainst the washer 21., by a retaining ring 30 which is held against thelip of the recess I9 by screws 3|. The'ring 30 may readily be taken offand the gauge 20 removed and replaced, because in this inflator thegauge is separable from its control valve.

The advantages of the inflator valve arise from its relatively smallnumber of simple rugged parts, and from. the fact that the air pressureitself is used to seal the passage and to operate the valve. The entirevalve is contained ina bore 40 which is perpendicular to andcommunicates with the interior end of the air inlet duct I5. The bore 40preferably consists of several successive, coaxial, set-baok portions: afirst and narrowest chamber 4| adjacent the recess I6; a wider secondchamber 42, and a still wider third chamber 43' which is threaded andwhich extends to the outside wall of the body I l.

The wall of the second chamber 42 has a port for the outlet conduit 44which leads into a tapped recess 45, into which is threaded a whipfitting 46 on the inflator end of the whip I2. The threaded wall of thethird chamber 43 has a port for the conduit 26 which leads to the gauge.

Where the first chamber 4| and the second chamber 42 meet, a shelf 41 isformed on which rests a removable washer-type valve seat 48, made ofrubber or synthetic rubber and having an opening substantially smallerthan the bore of the first chamber 4|. Normally the air pressure in theinlet duct I6 keeps the valve core 50 closed by holding it against theseat 48. The core 50 has a forwardly-extending stem 5! and arearwardlyextending stem 52 around which is an aligning spring 53 whichaids in closing the valve.

which supports the valve seat 48 and at its other I hollowvalve-retaining nut 55 with a gasket 65 to seal it; Its inner end 64holds the insert 55 in place. Adjacent the head 61, the nut 65 is portedat 68 to connect the interior axial bore 69 of the nut with the gaugeconduit 25. The interior bore 59 is tapered at I3 to provide a valveseat. The insert 55 has a tapered seat I5. A valve member 72 is mountedon the stem II and has a tapered face I4 to engage the seat I3 and atapered face I6'to engage the seat I5. Press-fitted on its end, thevalve stem II has a trigger button 17, which is used to move the valvemember I2. The inside end I8 of the stem II is hollowed out at 'I9-tofit over the end of the stem 5|, with clearance between the end of thestem 5| and the bottom of the recess I9 when the valves are seated as inFig. 2. The stem 5| bottoms in the stem I just before the latter hasmoved the valve face I6 against its seat I5, thereby lifting the valve50 oil its seat 48 only an instant before the valve face I6 seats. Thiseffectively blocks any pressure from the line II getting to the gaugeconduit 26 and port 58.

In the second chamber 42 is a hollow valve in- I sert member 55, havinga flange 56 at one end The inflator I0 is operated by depressing thebutton I? and thus moving the core face I4 away from its seat I3. As themovement continues, the tapered face I6 comes against its seat I5, andthe'core 59 is then lifted ofi its seat 48. When the core 50 is thusunseated, compressed air passes from the duct I6 into the axial bore 62,and out through the conduit 44 into the whip I2. When the button II isreleased, the spring 53 and the air pressure both act to close the valvecore 50 against its seat 48. At the same time the stem 5| moves thevalve 12 to the right. If the chuck I3 is on a tire valve, so there isback pressure from the tire in the hose I2, this pressure will seat theface I4 against its seat I3. Air at the tire pres-: sure will then passback through the whip I2, into the conduit 44, through the port 60, intothe bore 69, out the bleed hole 68 and the conduit 26 to the gauge 26,which will show the air pressure inside the tire.

The valve is easy to repair. When the screws 3| are removed and theretaining ring 3|] taken off, the gauge 20 may be taken out and returnedor replaced. By unscrewing the nut 65 from the housing, the whole valveassembly may be removed, and individual parts replaced, if desired.before reinsertion.

I claim:

1. In a tire inflator and gauge: the combination of a housing having anoutlet port and a gauge-receiving recess, an air inlet bore, and a valvebore normal to said inlet bore and connected thereto by an inlet axialto said valve bore, said valve bore being twice set back and having aradial port through the walls of each said setback portion, one leadingto said outlet port and the other to said gauge recess; a gauge insaidgauge-receiving recess; a tubular sleeve in said valve bore, having aresilient annular seat bonded to one end and adapted to abut theshoulder formed by the set-back adjacent to the inlet, said sleeve alsohaving a flange at the other end adapted to abut the shoulder betweensaid two set-back portions, the outside wall of said sleeve beingrelieved intermediate its ends and perforated by a radial bore, so thatthe axial opening through said sleeve always communicates with saidoutlet port; a spring-mounted valve member in said inlet bore having aconical portion normally urged against said resilient seat to close theinlet to said valve bore, said conical portion having a stem extendinginto the axial opening through said sleeve; a. nut closing the outer endof said valve bore and abutting said sleeve flange, said nut having anaxial opening therethrough and a radial opening therethrough incommunication with said g-auge port; and a second valve member having anactuating stem extending out through said axial opening in said nut, aresilient face adapted to close said other end of the axial openingthrough said sleeve, and also having an axial stem which extends intosaid sleeve and is recessed to slidably receive the stem of said firstvalve member, so as to provide a lost motion connection whereby the endof said stem recess will engage the encircled stem to lift said firstvalve member off its seat when said second valve member is seatedagainst said sleeve.

2. In a tire inflator and gauge: the combination of'a housing having anoutlet port, a gaugereceiving recess, an air inlet bore, and a valvebore connected to said inlet bore, said valve bore being twice set backand having a radial port through the walls of each said set-backportion, one leading to said outlet port and the other to said gaugerecess; a gauge in said gauge-receiving recess; a tubular sleeve in saidvalve bore, having a resilient annular seat at one end adapted to abutthe shoulder formed by the set-back nearer to the inlet, said sleevealso having a flange at the other end adapted to extend into the secondset-back portion and to abut the shoulder between said twoset-backportions, the outside wall of said sleeve being relievedvintermediate its ends and perforated by a radial bore, so that the axialopening through said sleeve always communicates with said outlet port; afirst valve member in said inlet bore having means normally biasing saidvalve member toward said resilient seat to close the inlet to said valvebore, said first valve member having a stem extending into the axialopening through said sleeve; a closure member closing the outer end ofsaid valve bore and abutting said sleeve flange, said closure memberhaving an axial opening therethrough and a radial opening therethroughin communication with said gauge port; and a second valve member havingan actuating stem extending out through said axial opening in saidclosure member, a resilient face adapted to close said other end of theaxial opening through said sleeve, and also having an axial stem whichextends into said sleeve and is recessed to slidably receive the stem ofsaid first member, so as to provide a lost mo- 6 tion connection wherebythe end of said stem recess will engage the encircled stem to lift saidfirst valve member off its seat when said second valve member is seatedagainst said sleeve.

3. In a tire inflator and gauge: the combination of a housing having anoutlet port, an air inlet bore, and a valve bore connected to said inletbore, said valve bore being twice set back and having a radial portthrough the walls of each said set-back portion, one leading to saidoutlet port; a gauge'to which the other radial port leads; a tubularsleeve in said valve bore, having at one end a resilient annular seatadapted to abut the shoulder formed by the setback adjacent to theinlet, said sleeve also having a flange at the other end adapted to abutthe shoulder between said two set-back portions, the outside wall ofsaid sleeve being relieved in between its ends and radially perforated,so that the axial opening through said sleeve always communicates withsaid outlet port; a springmounted valve member extending into said valveinlet from said inlet bore having a conical portion with means normallyurging said valve member against said resilient seat to close the inletto said valve bore, said conical portion having a stem extending intothe axial opening through said sleeve; a closure member closing theouter end of said valve bore and abutting said sleeve, said closuremember having an axial opening therethrough and a radial openingtherethrough in communication with said gauge port; and a second valvemember having an actuating stem extending out through said axial openingin said closure member, a resilient face adapted to close said other endof the axial opening through said sleeve, and also having an axial stemwhich extends into said sleeve and is recessed to slidably receive thestem of said first valve member, so as to provide a lost motionconnection whereby the end of said stem recess will engage the encircledstem to lift said first valve member ofi its seat When said second valvemember is seated against said sleeve.

ARCHIBALD R. MOFFE'I'I.

References Cited in the flle of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS

